Seismographic prospecting



Patented Apr. 20, 1.9547

U NIT ED YSrl-MITP S SEISMOGRAPHC 'PRO SFEC'BING CharlesJBiBazzoni,Wallingford, Pa., and Lacoste IG. Ellis; Beaumont, Tex., assignors to Sun @il Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of New `.I ersey S-vClaims. 1v

This invention relatesto seismographic-,ztprospecting and has particular reference to vthecreation of proper seismic. disturbances-for the carrying outoi seismographic reflection prospecting.

1n the past it has been customary vto re inthe. vicinity. of the surface of.' the ground, andzgenorally inshotholes, relatively large 1 quantities of explosive such as'v dynamite in concentrated charges. lWhen thisis done only a veryy small percentage of energy `is actually delivered throughthe `earth in theform-.otauseable disturbance. Much of the energyofuthe` explosion is v.dissipated in local destruction-ofthe surroundingfearth,v the elastic limitof Whichisexceeded throughaconsiderable region around thev charge. The'. failure to secure any. large percentageinput ofA useful energy was originally ascribed .to .thepresence of the weatheredlayer adjacent tothe surfacexof the ground, the assumptionbeingthat this layer would serve as an absorbing cushion so. 'thatronly a minor portion. of the energy 'would' actually reachv the harder, deeper rocks. through .which good transmission would occur. However, `tiwas noted that the weathered-layerwas ai quite effective conductoryof seismic disturbancesfiof'csmall amplitude by reason of the fact' thatitspresence involved little loss of energy: reiiected; from-tdeep boundaries reaching a receiver.:as'fcomparedfiwith thel reception of energy by a receiver locatedin a deep hole extendingbelow the-weathered'layer. That the weatheredlayery is notflper seanyextremely poor conductor of. SeiSmicdiSturbanCes has been further demonstratedgby-fthe.effective transmission oi .disturbances originating inthe. air sov that the Weatheredlayenitselfwould not be subjected to stresses'beyond itsielastic limit. .The last mentioned practice, accordingly,` has found favor in View oi its savingsof explosive fora given energy input. However, the: firingiof .concentrated charges in air is objectionable -inviewot the:.noise and shock which suchziring-produces.

1n accordance with the present inventionrmore effective transmission of f explosivev energyf into the earth is securedaby thedispersalof atotal charge over an area in contact with thek earth so that the disruptive .eiiects are rlooallyfn'iinimized. in accordance with the invention-the area coverage of the explosive is effected either-l oi two Ways or by a combination-ofthe twowwaysfthese involving either the provision of discrete small` charges located over a. relatively` I extended` area, orA by the -use y ofY explosiveinfelongated-iorm, for example, in theicordlike'fornknown' as primacord, which -hasa high rate Y*of explosion propagation; for example 1850001feet penseooridiforealcom` vlashed to the element.

2 bination oi such progressive explosive vmaterial with discrete charges to cover an extendednarea. Furthermore, accordance with the invention, since the explosion is progressive in nature.v over the area, it is possible to so arrange the explosive material and/or charges as to secure directional effects for the wave iront which isV produced including focussing or controlled dispersion ofthe wave energy when desired.

The various objects oi the invention will be apparent from the foregoing and from the following description read in conjunction withy the .accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view .illustrating one arrangement of an explosive cord-like material associated with discrete charges to cover an extended area oi the ground;

Figure 2 is a vertical section illustrating how a number of arrays, such as indicated in Figure 1, may be associated in order to secure extended area coverage;

Figure 3 is a plan View similar to Figure 1 but showing an arrangement by which a wavefront may be modified;

Figure 4 is a View similar to Figurev 2 ybut illustrating the use oi an explosive array. suchy as shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a plan view showing another array of progressive explosive elements for the production of a wave iront progressively sloping with respect to the vertical;

' Figure 6 is a vertical Vsection illustrating the use of the array of Figure 5; and

Figure 7 is a plan View similar to Figure 5 but showing still another alternative array.

Referring first to Figure l, there is illustrated at 2 a detonator provided with the leads l through whichit may be tired in the usual fashion. The detonator isconnected to one end of a progressive explosive element 5, ier example of the. primacord type, which is in the iorrn of. a flexible tube containing explosive oi such type: thatan explosion will progress along the length of the element at a very rapid rate, such as oftheorder oi 18,000 feet per second. As illustrated in Figure 1 the element t is wound in the iorrn of a spiral progressing outwardly from the `thatched-orf 2.' Locallyalong this element d there are providedfdiscrete charges oi explosive@ whichmay, for example; taire the form ci bundles :oi `dynamite sur- Y rounding the elenientlor sticks oi dynamite v4merely They/holearray is-*indi- Y cated generallyby` the numeral v it. VWhen the -'detonator is i iiredVv there occursa progressive-- explosion starting from the interior of the spiral and running outwardly. The radial outv ard progression rate, of course, depends upcn the linear rate of travel of the explosion along the element t and the disposition of the convolutions of the spiral with respect to each other. As will be evident, the spiral may, as generally illustrated, be of the Archimedes type or may be of a hyperbolic or logarithmic type in which the convolutions spread more and more as the radius increases or may be of a type in which the convolutions become closer as the radius increases. As will be evident, these various arrays will produce different time distributions of the initiation of the disturbance over the area covered by the array. The discrete charges at 8 will produce locally intensified sources but while these discrete charges are localized the effect at any appreciable distance below the array will be much the same as if they were distributed to form, in effect, merely a continuous element such as 6 of large size and explosive concentration.

An array such as that described has the advantage that, while local disruption of the soil does occur, this local disruption is relatively limited and the volume which is subjected to stresses beyond its elastic limit is relatively small for a given amount of explosive. The result is that the explosive energy is, in effect, fed into the earth over a relatively large area as compared with the utilization of a concentrated explosive charge of like size, in effect for ing a point source with intense disruption occurring at the source. While an elongated explosive array of the type described may be sunlr into a correspondingly shaped ditch and covered or may be supported in the air there is no particular point in utilizing either of these expedients and it is preferred, therefore, to place the array on the surface without covering it. When so placed the noise and shock are considerably lessened as contrasted with causing the explosion to occur in the air.

In order to secure a well defined wave front it is desirable to associate a plurality of arrays, such as that of Figure 1, side by side as indicated in Figure 2. The arrays are here shown as located on the surface of the weathered layer l2. For reliection shooting there are, of course, provided the detectors indicated at lll at a suitable remote location, these being connected to a conventional seismographic recorder it. If the several arrays i are simultaneously nred by connection of their detonators in series there will be produced from each of them waves such as indicated at i8, and 22 in Figure 2, the reiiected energy from the combined wave front approaching the detectors lll as indicated at 24. If the spiral arrays are as indicated in Figure 1 with the progress of the explosion being from the center outwardly it will be evident that the individual wave fronts of the arrays will be concave upwardly since the disturbance will start at the central part of the array and progress outwardly. The curvature of these wave fronts will, of course, decrease progressively as indicated at 20 and 22 so that at substantial distances below the surface the wave front will be approximately plane. However, it is possible to cause the wave front to be approximately plane even close to the explosive arrays. Figure 3 illustrates an array giving rise to this condition.

In this gure the array indicated at involves a pair of detonators 28 and 3l) which may be connected in series for simultaneous ring,which detonators are connected to a pair of explosive elements 32 and 34 which spiral inwardly from the detonators. As indicated, the convolutions of the two elements alternate and by this arrangement a relatively large area may be covered with a considerable inward pitch of the spirals. lf desired, local charges may be provided as indicated at 35. With this arrangement wave fronts may be produced which may be slightly convex upwards in the vicinity of the arrays but rapidly become substantially plane as indicated at 38 in Figure e to give rise to a substantially plane wave front indicated at 4%.

The arrangements just described tend to produce, except for refractions which may occur at the boundaries of strata, wave fronts which move vertically downwardly. Sloping wave fronts are, however, frequently desirable in order to project the maximum energy toward a deep reilecting boundary at the proper angle to produce a maximum reflection of energy to the detectors, the considerations here involved being similar to those set forth in the application of Lacoste G. Ellis, Serial No. 33,363, filed March 25, 1949, now Patent No. 2,569,411, granted September 25, 1951. Such sloping wave fronts may be obtained utilizing the type of arrays heretofore referred to if they are located on properly sloping surfaces but it will be evident that if substantial areas are to be covered by the explosion it would generally be impractical to provide the necessary sloping surface on the earth. Preferably, therefore, there is adopted the type of arrangement illustrated in Figures 5 and 6. In this type of arrangement elongated explosive elements of the type previously referred to, indicated at d, are laid out in parallelism or other suitable array, such as in fan shape, and are simultaneously ired by the use of individual detonators 132 connected in series as indicated at tl. Under these circumstances a wave front such as indicated at i2 will be produced having an angle relative to the surface which will depend upon the delay time of propagation of the explosion along the individual elements. The rate of propagation of such elements may be adjusted to a considerable extent by virtue of their construction and, accordingly, by this means various angles of slope of the wave front may be secured. However, the same type of variations may be even more con- .veniently secured by the adoption of a zig-zag array of elements 52 as indicated in Figure 7, the elements in this case also being fired by individual detonators 4B series connected as indicated at 5E?. By reason of the zig-zag arrangement the time delay toward .the right is increased and consequently the slope of the wave front is correspondingly increased. By this arrangement, therefore, the slope ofthe wave front can be changed from the minimum corresponding to the arrangement of the explosive elements in straight lines up to a practical maximum represented by a zig-zag arrangement of the elements so that their adjacent waves are as close together as feasible.

It will be evident from .the foregoing that two ends may be readily achieved in accordance with the invention:

First, the local intensity of the explosion mayl be so reduced as to produce a low and localized stressing of the underlying earth with the result that a minimum volume is subjected to stresses exceeding the elastic limit. The result is that a substantially larger percentage of the .explcsive enersris transfclmed into thetravelfling .wave rather than merely expended' in disrupf- --tion of the soil.

VVVhSecondly,by-taking advantage ofthe progressive Lnature ofi-the explosion 'along'v the `elongated lexpolsive element, together-with the possibilityv of @utilizing-fthis-#progressive fexplosionlv-to' lire localized charges there isv aordedv Athe l possibility ofrmodifying the wave front whichris produced. I While1 various illustrationsofthis `type Ioi procedure vhave :been given .above-rit.- will Y be V.evident that the elongatedl explosive elements may be disv poseduinnmany Aotherefashi'ons. Being oil'cordlike material the elements may be arranged in the iorm of networks so that'crossingstrands may ignite each other thereby giving rise to many desired '-patterns.. at thei. -explosives.. source. 1n particular, directed wave fronts may be provided without the necessity forli-ring.chargessuspended above the-surface which, aspreviously mentioned,

are Aobjectionable by virtue. of the large shock..

waves produced in the air.

Focussing or directed dispersion may be eiiected. The discussion or" Figure 3 implied its utilization over a relatively small area so that a number of the spirals described would be associated and red simultaneously giving rise to a wave which at a substantial depth would have an approximately plane front and would be directed vertically downwardly. If, however, a spiral arrangement such as indicated in Figure 3 covers a very considerable area and is used alone, it will be evident that there may be produced a wave which, in eiect, has converging rays so that it may :be focussed, for example, to converge theoretically after reflection from a deep surface, at the location of one or more receivers. In this fashion a quite concentrated reection of energy may be produced. Furthermore, it will be evident that if the spiral is suitably distorted it may not only have such focussing effects but additionally may be given a directive effect similar to that described with reference to Figures 5, o and '7. in such cases the ignition may be started from several points connected also by priinacord and, for example, with this last primacord extending transversely to the arcs or the spiral. Rectangular or other arrays may also be used with suitable ignition points to produce any desired type of wave having directive and/or focussed properties. It will, of course, be obvious that an optical analogy may only be approximated in view of the presence of numerous reflecting and dispersing boundaries in the earth. However, substantial directive effects may be secured along with substantial concentrations of energy where that is desired. By adopting reversely arranged arrays it is, of course, possible to produce expanding Waves which, in some cases, may be useful to reach remote receivers.

As will be evident, the invention may be applied to prospecting over water covered areas by supporting a desired array of the cord-like explosive material on or adjacent to the surface by buoyant iioats.

What is claimed is:

l. The method of seismographic prospecting comprising providing through an area of the suriace of the earth an array of elongated cordlile explosive involving an arrangement of the explosive in substantially spiral form to provide t e displacement of explosion between the central peripheral portions of the area, producing a progressive explosion through said area by firing said cord-like explosive and producing wavewtront; and detecting reected seismic waves produced bytheexplofifsion.

l 2. "The methodr :of1.seisrnographicv v`prospecting comprising providing through anlareao-the surareauwith respect to 4thatfoccurring `at the pe- .ripheral portion ofthearea, producingprogressive explosion through.. said area. by fring said cord-like .explosive .and producing. thereby a wave .fy frontzwhichis.'concave.. downwardly,:and detect- '.ing sreflected-fseismicwaves produced zbyl the Y explosion. 11.3.' The: methodv .zotrseismographic prospecting comprising `providing `throughianarea.` of `the sur- ;Lvace of fthefearthfan. array of..elongatedicordlike.` explosive f involving anv arrangement :of the Liexpolsive .ini substantiallyispiral form. to 'provide v \;delay .1.0i explosion at'- the peripheral .portion oi' said area with respect to that occurring at the central portion of the area, producing a progressive explosion through said area by firing said cord-like explosive and producing thereby a wave front which is concave upwardly, and detecting reflected seismic waves produced by the explos1on.

4. The method of seismographic prospecting comprising providing through an area of the surface of the earth an array of elongated cordlike explosive of the type producing, on ring, a progressive explosion along its length, said array including discrete concentrated charges of explosive located at points along the length of the cord-like explosive and involving an arrangement of the explosive in substantially spiral form to provide time displacement of explosion between the central and peripheral portions of the area, producing a progressive explosion through said area by firing said explosive and producing thereby a non-planar Wave front, and detecting reiected seismic waves produced by the explosion.

5. The method of seismographic prospecting comprising providing through an area of the surface of the earth an array of elongated cord-like explosive of the type producing, on firing, a progressive explosion along its length, said array including discrete concentrated charges of explosive located at points along the length of the cord-like explosive and involving an arrangement of the explosive in substantially spiral forni to provide delay of explosion at the central portion of said area with respect to that occurring at the peripheral portion of the area, producing progressive explosion through saidv area by ring said explosive and producing thereby a wave iront which is concave downwardly, and detecting relected seismic waves produced by the explosion.

6. The method of seismographic prospecting comprising providing through an area of the surface of the earth an array of elongated cord-like explosive of the type producing, on firing, a progressive explosion along its length, said array including discrete concentrated charges of explosive located at points along the length of the cord-like explosive and involving an arrangement of the explosive in substantially spiral form to provide delay of explosion at theperipheral portion of said area with respect to that occurring at the central portion of the area, producing a progressive explosion through said area by rng said explosive and producing thereby a wave front which is concave upwardly, and detecting reflected seismic waves produced by the explosion.

7. The method of seismographic prospecting comprising providing through an area of the surface of the earth an array of elongated cord-like explosive involving an arrangement of the explosive in substantially spiral form to provide time displacement of explosion between the central and peripheral portions of the area, said array involving side by side arrangement of said explosive with detonators at corresponding ends thereof, producing a progressive eX- plosion through said area by firing said detonators simultaneously and producing thereby a non-planar wave front, and detecting reflected seismic Waves produced by the explosion.

8. The method of seismographic prospecting comprising providing through an area of the surface of the earth an array of elongated cord-like explosive of the type producing, on iiring, a progressive explosion along its length, said array including discrete concentrated charges of References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,239,123 Stoneking Apr. 22, 1921 2,133,484 Sherar Oct. 18, 1938 2,340,314 Farnham Feb. 1, 1944 2,377,903 Rieber June 12, 1945 

